Tips for Healing Damaged Hair

Are you plagued by damaged hair that's frustratingly difficult to style? Do you often find yourself giving up on taming your wild, damaged mane? Do you wear a hat to avoid embarrassment? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you've come to the right place. Read on to discover solutions to return your damaged locks to their former, shiny state.

#1: Find the Source – What Exactly is Damaging Your Hair?

Unfortunately, many of the things we do to our hair every day to make it look beautiful actually cause long-term damage. Chemical damage, such as excessive dyeing or bleaching, can weaken hair over time. Heat styling weakens hair as well—and the more tools you use, the worse it gets. Additionally, certain medications can weaken the hair follicles and result in damaged strands. Consult with your physician and make sure that a nutritional disorder or other physical ailment isn't responsible for your damaged hair problems, just to be on the safe side.

#2 Start the Healing Process – Change Your Routine

Once you discover what is causing all of that damage, you have to eliminate the guilty culprits! If your damage is chemical, you'll have to start dyeing your hair less often and limiting your use of relaxers or perms to once every 2-3 months. If possible, try to wait even longer than that between treatments. If you do your own hair at home, don't assume that you have to use the entire bottle. You might be able to get the results you need with half or even a quarter of the bottle! For heat-styling damage, there are a few different strategies. Try letting your hair air-dry a few times per week, instead of frying it with your hair dryer. Alternatively, you can invest in a heat-activated repair treatment, which conditions your hair while you style it.

#3: Buy the Right Repair Product

Do your research before you spend your money. Look for a hair repair product that penetrates the cuticle and fixes each strand from the inside-out. Don’t be fooled by products that merely condition the surface of the hair! Compare hair repair products in our review section.

#4: Choose the Right Tools

Brushing your hair too often, or brushing hair while it is damp, can make it more brittle. Never brush your hair when it is wet. If you need to style your hair while it's wet, try switching to a wide-toothed comb. Be gentle when you style, as the wrong type of hair-tie can cause some serious breakage if you are too rough with your locks.

#5: Pump Up the Moisture

When hair gets dried out, the hair shaft becomes brittle and more vulnerable to damage. Ask your stylist to recommend a high quality shampoo and conditioner, which will protect your hair from over-drying. Start leaving your conditioner in a little longer as well and pay special attention to your ends when applying moisturizing products.